The ideal sauna session duration is dependent on the individual; however, a 1-hour sauna session is unnecessarily long and can pose risks, especially to less experienced sauna users. If you own a DIY sauna kit, it is usually best to limit sauna sessions to 30 minutes, maximum.
Why 1 Hour is Too Long
- Dehydration: Sitting in the sauna will result in users sweating rather profusely in a short amount of time. The longer you sit in the sauna, the more water you lose through the sweat. Prolonging your session can lead to dehydration and exhaustion. Limiting sauna sessions will prevent excessive dehydration.
- Overheating: Prolonged heat exposure can raise your core body temperature. With too much time in the sauna, your body can reach a dangerous temperature, leading to overheating, exhaustion, or even heatstroke.
- Nausea: Spending too much time in the sauna can cause nausea, lightheadedness, and dizziness. This is especially true if you are new to sauna use. As soon as you feel any of these symptoms, you should get out of the sauna, even if you’ve only spent a few minutes inside.
Ideal Sauna Session Length
There are typically no added benefits to being in the sauna longer than 30 minutes. In fact, you can reap most of the sauna benefits with a short 10-minute session. However, if you are a beginner, you should only stay in the sauna for as long as you can handle. Start with three to five minutes and work your way up to ten or fifteen minutes.
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